Car-vestibule diaphragm.



S. W. MIDGLEY'.

GAR VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

APPLIOATJON FILED APR. 17, 1912.

Patented May 5, 1914.

unrrnp s'rarns STANLEY W. MIDGLEY, OF CHICAGO ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINGIS.

CAR-VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY WV. Mme- Lnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-vestibule Diaphragms, of which the following is a specification.

In connection with the use and employment of the accordion-shaped collapsible and extensible diaphragms used in association with the vestibules of railway cars, it is sometimes desirable or necessary to be able to tip or tilt the outer face plate an appreciable amount to permit or facilitate the removal of the buffer mechanism or portions thereof. Heretofore, one way to accomplish this result has been to joint or hinge together the parts of the fastening strap holding the inner portion of the diaphragm to the end wall of the car vestibule, so that by detaching or unfastening parts of the fast-ening strips they may be turned on such hinges or joints, permitting the tipping or tilting of the diaphragm for the purpose indicated. Such a construction has certain objectionable features, and the object of the present invention is to make a car dia phragm of this general character by which such result can be more readily and easily secured, and in order to accomplish this I separably or detachably connect certain of the plaits of the accordion diaphragm so as to render the same. capable of being opened or separated without destruction or injury of the parts to permit the necessary or de sir-able inclinations of the outer face plate.

In order that a full and complete understanding of this invention may be had, I have illustrated a desirable and preferred embodiment of the same in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and to which reference should be had in connection with the following detailed description.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the end portion of a car; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on a vertical plane passing through the accordion diaphragm; Fig. 3 is an enlarged horlzontal cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and Fig.

t illustrates in enlarged section the various parts forming the separable or detachable connectlon between the two adjacent-fabric strips forming one of the plaits of one of the post is fastened, by means of a metallic strip 11, one end of an inverted U-shaped accordion diaphragm composed of a plurality of inverted U-shaped strips of fabric 12, 12, fastened together along their opposite longitudinal edges to complete the accordion structure, such edges being covered by suitable binding strips 13. At its center, however, each leg of the diaphragm, for a portion at least, of its length from the bottom upward instead of being stitched or riveted, is provided with a separable, releasable or detachable fastening consisting of a plurality of round studs 14, each having a substantially rectangular shank 15 passing through a hole in the edge portion of one of the strips of fabric 12 and held in place by a pair of washers l6 and 17 having apertures conforming tothc cross-section of the shank 15, each of such washers having one or more prongs to prevent it from turning relativel to the fabric. This pin, or rod 14 at one end has an enlarged head 18, and between the washer 17 and the fabric 12 is fastened by means of these pins or rods, a cover strip 19 preferably of rawhide, or similar rain and weatherprocf material. The next adjacent fabric strip 12 of the diaphragm is provided with a plurality of metallic eyelets 20 in register with the pins 1e, and the free edge ortion of the cover strip 19 is also supp ied with metallic eyelets 21. When the plait or seam is closed, the strips 12, 12, are brought together, the pins 14 extending through the eyelets 20 and also through the eyelets 21 of the cover strip 19, these parts being held in this closed or assembled relation by means of cotter pins 22 extended through holes 23 in the pins 14:. As is clearly shown in the drawings, these detachable connections or separable fastenings extend upwardly for about two-thirds of the length of the legs of the diaphragm, which is sufficient under ordinary circumstances to permit the necessary inclination of the face plate, is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to remove either wholly or in part, the buffer mechanism of the platform.

ilnder ordinary circui'nstances, all of the plaits of the accordion structure are closed, the protecting or covering strips 19 closing the joints between the adjacent fabric diaphragm strips l2, 12, all of the parts being held in proper assembled condition by the cotter pins it hen is desired to tip the face plate, the cotter pins 22 are removed from their holes 23, the strips 1.9 and the e} rets 2i. being; removed from the cylindrical portions 1- of the pins, which then permits the separation of the adjacent fabric strips 12, In other words, two opposite plaits on the two legs of the diaphragm are opened up for a portion of their length. This, of course, permits a tilting of the face plate "24: into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. After the buffer mechanism has been replaced or repaired, then the parts of the diaphragm are again assembled, the cotter pins 22 holding them tt ether in the desired relation. Although i have shown these protecting covers 19 and separable joints or seams at the inner edges of the legs of he dia ihragins, they could, of course, i

be at the outer edges if found to be preferable. By employing a construction of this ciaracter, no hinge or other similar joint is necessary in the strip or strips 11 securing: the diaphragm to the posts or end wall of the vestibule, the partial detaching occu "ng in the diaphragm proper as dis tinguished from its connection with the car vestibule.

although in this specification one particular embodiment of toe invention is illus trated and described in detail, it is not to be understood or inferred that the invention is limited and restricted to this particular form and style of tructure, because many minor mechanical changes could be made in the features herein set forth, without departure from this invention and without the orifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A car vestibule diaphragi'n having in each leg an open plait, and means to releasably connect the adjacent portions of the plait, whereby the plait may be closed or opera-d at will to permit the tilting of the face place without injury to the parts, substantially as described.

A car vestibule diaphragm of accordion form having in each leg an open plait com posed of two pieces of fabric separable for at least a portion of their length, and re leasable means to detachably connect the two pieces, whereby the plait may be closed or opened at will to permit tilting of the face plate without injury to the parts, substan tially as described.

2;. As an article of manufacture. a car vestibule diaphragm of accordion form, each leg of the diaphragm having a plait composed of two pieces of fabric, a plurality of pins fastened to one of said pieces of fabric having apertures through which said pins are adapted to extend, and means associated with said pins to detachably fasten together the pieces of fabric for at least a portion of their length, substantially as described.

at. As a article of manufacture, a car vestibule diaphragm of accordion form, each leg of the diaphragm having a plait composed of two pieces of fabric, pins fastened to one of said pieces of fabric, the companion piece of fabric having apertures through which said pins are adapted to project, a cover-strip fastened to one of said pieces of fabric and adapted to fold over the other piece, and means associated with said pins and cover strip to detachably fasten together said pieces of fabric and hold the cover-strip in position, substantially as described.

STANIQEY \V. MlDGLEY.

lVitnesses Vi". H. Fonsr'ru, A. B. (hmnr'roN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

